In July I did the first of the series, a 5km race and all my dislikes of the race were reinforced. It was crowded, poorly organized, full of weekend warriors, other racers are not very supportive and too many meat heads. If Robin wasn't so into it I might have bailed on my other two races.
I'm so glad I didn't. What an experience.
Saturday September 6 Super Spartan Red Deer Alberta
Robin, Gary, and I stuck together during the race. Liam as usual zipped ahead. My favorite obstacles were swimming through part of the river and getting the spear throw.
My results
time 1:47:00
overall 758/2162
gender 163/932
age category 1/20
A note about my age category, on the results the placed me in the wrong age group, they put me in the 45-49. If I transfer over my time to my age group then I would win in it.
I came away from this day with a new respect for Spartan races.
Saturday September 27 Spartan Beast, Sun Peaks Resort BC
This fall has been a season of personal celebration for me. Septemeber, 10 years ago I was in the hospital, very sick. I spent a total of three weeks in the hospital. After 2 weeks I was diagnosed with colon cancer, had major surgery and was told that I had stage 3 colon cancer and would need 9 months of chemo.
This September I have remembered each of the events that happened 10 years ago and rejoiced to be alive. The most significant of those days was September 27.
I was in the hospital because I couldn't keep my hemoglobin above 70 despite repeated blood transfusions. I was in severe pain and would spike a fever every evening. With a family history of colon cancer the first thing they did was "rule out" colon caner with a colonoscopy. After that they just started doing test after test. Everything came back negative. They were going to send me home when one more doctor came to see me and ordered another test. That was done in the morning. All day the nurses kept asking when my husband was going to come in. As soon as Jody got there that evening the doctor came in.
Doctor, "Well we have your results back."
Me jokingly, " Ya, let me guess, they are negative like all the others. "
Doctor, " No, you have a large tumor in your large intestine."
My world stopped. I let out a loud wail. The doctor kept on talking, about surgery, cancer, statistics. I don't remember a word he said. As he was talking, Jody and I were holding each other and weeping. I just kept saying to Jody, "I'm too young to die. I don't want to die."
September 27, 2004 changed my life, so did September 27, 2014. Both those days unleashed the Beast in me.
The Spartan Beast is a 20+km race with 26 obstacles. Ours was 23.4 km. We went up to the hill Friday night before the race to pick up our race packages I started to get a bit worried. Right out of the start gate it was up hill. My friend Gary Diaz also informed me that this is the hardest course in Canada and one of the top three in North America. Why did I not know this before now?
This race was a beast. It was straight all switch back up the hill then narrow, rough, rocky, winding paths down. I was so excited to see the finish line and hear the people cheering but no we had to go back up the hill only this time straight up and then straight back down. Remember during all this we are doing obstacles. The downs were almost as hard as the ups. This was definitely the hardest physical challenge I have ever had. My body ached. Big guys were down. But, it was oh so good! Crazy.
Liam, Robin, Gary and I stuck together for the first little bit. Gary struggled with the run and told us to go ahead, so the three of us stayed together for the rest of the race. It was so fun to run with Liam. He was so supportive of his mom. He let me step on his shoulder to get over one of the walls even though my shoe was covered with cow poo. This race didn't have as much mud but what it lacked in mud it made up for in cow patties. The highlight of the race for me was seeing Robin make it to the top of the rope. It was the first time he did it. I was cheering and yelling like a mad woman.
I absolutely loved this race. It pushed me farther than I ever thought I could go. I showed me how strong I have become and how much further I can go.
I was and still am a BEAST
My results
Total time 4:48:21
overall 486/1087
gender 115/444
age 1/8